pulling the wool

The pallium, which is bestowed on each archbishop who took office in the past year, symbolizes the unity of each church province with the Holy See and of each archbishop with the pope. It's made of lamb's wool, is about 2 inches wide, has strips that hang down in front and back and is decorated with six black crosses. ...

Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick said he's proud of all four of the Americans invested Wednesday. "They include two former presidents of our U.S. bishops' conference, and that's saying something about (the pope's) confidence in the conference leadership in a beautiful way," McCarrick said, referring to Gregory and Fiorenza.

Both Fiorenza and Gregory were appointed to their archbishoprics in December of 2004, four months before Benedict became pope. Further, the pallium is bestowed on all metropolitan archbishops pro forma. So we can be sure that yesterday's festivities say absolutely nothing -- beautiful or otherwise -- about Pope Benedict's confidence in the leadership of the USCCB.

Except, perhaps, in its liberty to travel.

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Again, good points Diogenes. Thank you.
As for Cardinal McCarrick, let us pray that his retirement is accepted by fax machine or by e-mail.. & let's keep praying for his conversion to the Catholic Church... and that the next successor to the Apostles who is sent to DC will speak and act as a successor to the Apostles, with unquestioned love for and obedience to the Holy Father and Magisterium. .. and that he would have, with holy boldness, the Heart of the Shepherd.

Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2005 12:02 PM ET USA

The Holy Father's confidence in the leadership of the United States episcopate could best be expressed by the acceptance of Cardinal McCarrick's resignation by return of post!

Posted by: Vincit omnia amor -
Jun. 30, 2005 3:57 PM ET USA

What might be most sad is the Card. McCarrick probably believes his own spin. Beautiful, simply beautiful! (He turns 75 in July. Let's hope the Holy Father sends a beautiful message to the USCCB and gives the faithful of DC a worthy Shepherd.)